Let us never forget 9/11

Intro: On the morning of September 11, 2001, Brian Clark, a Canadian businessman, was sitting in his office on the 84th floor of the South Tower when the second plane struck. Amid the smoke, fire, and chaos, he heard faint cries for help. Against the instinct to flee, Brian followed the voice and found a man named Stanley Praimnath, trapped behind a wall of debris. With his bare hands, Brian pulled Stanley free. Together, step by step, they made their way down 80 flights of stairs—and out into the sunlight. Out of thousands in those upper floors, they were among the very few who survived. To this day, Stanley calls Brian his “brother for life.”

Stories like theirs remind us why we are gathered. They remind us that September 11th is not just a date in history—it is a day etched into our lives, families, and our very identity as a nation. That's why I say “Let us never forget Sept. 11th.”

Those who experienced that day will never forget where they were, what they were doing. I drove home to Swainsboro that morning to attend my best friend’s infant son’s funeral. I walked into my grandmothers house just in time to see the second plane strike the south tower. Not since Pearl Harbor had their been an attack so great against our nation, Roosevelt called that day “a day of infamy” which means evil fame. We can say the same for Sept. 11th.

Its hard to believe its been 24 years ago, and though we have not forgotten the day, its seems we have forgotten the circumstances that led up to that day and much of the aftermath. This morning I will give us 3 reason that we should never forget 9/11/

I. Let us never forget for the sake of the fallen

“On September 11, 2001, 2,977 lives were taken from us—mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, friends and neighbors. Each number is a name. Each name is a life. And each life is a story we must never forget.”

A. The Heroic Victims

Like that of Welles Crowther, a 24-year-old equities trader in the South Tower. When the plane struck, he put on a red bandana he always carried and began guiding people down the smoky stairwells. Survivors recall how he carried an injured woman on his back, then went back up—again and again—leading others to safety. He saved at least a dozen lives that day. But he never made it out himself. Months later, when his body was found, those he rescued finally knew who their anonymous rescuer with the red bandana was.

B. The Heroic First Responders

There were 411 first responders who died that day. Men and women who ran into danger while others ran to safety. Like Stephen Siller, a Brooklyn fire fighter who had just finished his shift and was driving home, he heard that a plane had struck the Twin Towers. He turned his truck around and raced toward Manhattan but got stuck in traffic. So he strapped 60 pounds of gear to his back and ran nearly two miles to the towers. He was last seen heading into the South Tower to save others. He never came out. Stephen left behind a wife and five young children.

Their courage is a legacy we must carry forward.” Today we have many first responders here and I am grateful for each of you, and the sacrifices you make each day to insure the safety of our lives and property. You are our hero's, though often unsung still our hero's.

C. The Heroic Servicemen

In the years following September 11, 2001, our nation lost over 7,000 servicemembers in the Global War on Terror—including nearly 2,500 in Afghanistan and over 4,500 in Iraq. Each number represents a life of duty and sacrifice that we must forever honor.” Like that of SFC. Alwyn Cashe whose Bradley Fighting Vehicle hit a roadside bomb. The explosion ruptured the fuel cell, and flames engulfed the vehicle with six soldiers trapped inside. Though soaked in fuel and already on fire, Cashe refused medical attention and charged back into the inferno again and again, pulling out his men one by one. His uniform and skin burned away, but he kept rescuing his soldiers until he collapsed. Though 70% of body was badly burned, while in the hospital his only concern was his soldiers. He died three weeks later from his wounds. He was awarded the medal of honor for his death and embodies what it means to lay down one’s life for his friends!

Each of these men and women should be honored today and their memory must stay with us to insure that we don’t drop our guard and make us an easy target once again.

II. Let us never forget for the sake of history repeating itself

The sad truth is, we have a short memory and history always seems to repeat itself. Just look, mullets are back in style (Joking)! Seriously, history books are full of nations not learning their lessons from the past. In the Bible God warned Israel over and again not to forget Him. But they did, and the northern kingdom was conqured and led into exile by Assyria. 117 years later The Southern Kingdom followed their example and was conquered and led into captivity by Babylon!

We don’t learn our lessons from History. in 2001, Nineteen al-Qaeda terrorists exploited the openness of our nation—entering on visas, learned to fly at our schools, and boarding planes with nothing more than box cutters. They turned our own airliners into weapons of war. History has a way of repeating itself when we grow complacent. Until 8 months ago we had open boarders and now much of our nation is at arms over secured borders and policies meant to keep our nation safe.

We are the greatest nation civilization has ever seen but there are nations and people who would love a 9/11 2.0 or worse. Therefore, let us never forget 9/11 for the sake of history repeating itself! Learn from our mistakes and don’t repeat them!

III. Let us never forget for the sake of unity

The aftermath of Sept. 11 brought unity to our nation. For a season, political party lines faded. Republicans and Democrats stood shoulder-to-shoulder on the Capitol steps, the night of the attack singing “God Bless America.” Churches filled, people prayed. Public squares held candlelight vigils. Strangers hugged strangers, neighbors checked on neighbors. Across our country American flags flew from porches, cars, and businesses, flags even appeared on clothing. Americans stood in long lines to give blood, raised money for families, and volunteered in countless ways. The sense was: “We are all in this together.”

But today there is division of the likes I haven’t seen in my life. Our nation is extremely divided politically, ideologically, and racially, to the point that no one can simply have a difference of opinion, Today it’s you're are either with me or against me. There is an old saying “A nation divided can not stand” and if things don’t change we will not stand much longer.

But, I still believe we are one nation under God, and each of us born as equals, endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights. We must return to God and stop allowing the media to influence with half truths and lies, driving such division in our ranks. Let us cast our minds back to Sept. 11 2001 to a day that we stood united so that we will not fall.

Let us never forget 9/11 for the sake of the fallen, history repeating itself, and unity in this great nation.